‘Esteemed’ Mule Day Queen Corbin now has great expectations

As she stood on stage as the 2013 Mule Day Queen and court were announced, her mantra was that the pageant experience would build her self-esteem.

“When they called Brittaney Redden as fourth, I thought, ‘Well, maybe third; maybe I was better than I thought,’” she recalled telling herself.

Corbin said that after they announced third runner-up, she was sure she had not made the court at all and again reminded herself about building self-esteem. Once they called Brittany Sharp and Kaitlyn Huckaby as first and second runners-up, she thought, “Wow, those girls were really good,” and again reminded herself that the experience was building her self-esteem.

Then when she — a first-time pageant participant — was named 2013 Mule Day Queen, she said she couldn’t believe it.

And as she received the crown from 2012 Mule Day Queen Tana Norman, joyful tears ran down her face.

Corbin said the hardest part of the pageant was sitting in the back awaiting her turn for the on-stage question, not knowing what it would be. But after participating in several pageants since she was very young, she said this was the first time she didn’t feel out of sorts, sweating and nervous about walking out on the stage.

Now she is Queen.

“I’m happy I won but kind of upset that it’s my last year,” Corbin said. “I had so much fun. But I feel happy and privileged to represent Columbia and the county.

“And now, since it’s my last year, I can help other girls with their speeches or anything they need help with,” she added. “I feel I can help them can gain confidence.”

• Pageant history: First time in Mule Day pageant, named Queen

• Hometown: Hampshire

• Parents: Shelley and Dale Hinson

• School: Hampshire School freshman, involved in FFA and represented Middle Tennessee in the FFA Creed contest last month.

• Future plans: Because Corbin has been involved with FFA, she hopes to do something in agriculture, perhaps agricultural law. She said she wants “to help farmers because I know they don’t get the respect they deserve. In the cities, people don’t know where their food comes from and think it will always be available in the stores. But if the farmers get the feeling they can’t make a living for their families, they’ll quit, and this will decrease food production.”

• Special interests: Hunting, fishing, sewing and cooking. Corbin has been hunting and fishing with her dad since she was 9 or 10 years old, and last season got to go by herself for the first time. She is now sewing a skirt, and has also made dresses and purses. Recently she sewed dresses for little girls in Africa. Corbin says she likes to help her mom prepare supper or her dad grill out. “But I like baking, too,” she said.

Corbin said she is looking forward to hanging out with the other girls on the court and being out in the community, helping little girls and others. “If I see anyone needing help, I’ll go help them,” she said. Corbin said that in all the years her family has attended Mule Day, she has never been in the parade, so she is really looking forward to it, including helping with the Mule Day Queen and Court float.

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Brittany SHARP, 21

“I made it. Looking all the way back to my first Mule Day pageant at 15 and that horrible pink dress to now, I’ve become the person I was meant to be. It wasn’t about winning or losing, but about who was out there cheering me on and how long they’ve been doing it.”

• Future plans: Wants to work one-on-one to change the health of the community one person at a time.

Sharp said she is most looking forward to singing on the Main Stage this year and eating her annual frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate.

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Kaitlyn HUCKABY, 21

“This is my last pageant, my last hurrah, so to speak. I’m hanging up the heels, not literally but figuratively where pageants are concerned. I only did one other for charity last year. I’m at the stage of my life of getting ready for the future. I don’t want to compete in a pageant where it might mean taking someone else’s spot that wants it more than I do.”

• Pageant history: Competed last two years. Placed on court — 2013, second runner-up; 2012, first runner-up.

• Future plans: Intends to start teaching in the fall and has submitted her resume to area school systems. Kaitlyn says she wants to remain near home. “As much as I enjoy traveling, I love my family and want to stay near them.” She eventually plans to get her master’s degree, but has no definite time schedule yet. She wants to enjoy the simpler things in life and travel when the bank account allows, returning to Spain and visiting Argentina for the first time.

Kaitlyn said she is most looking forward to square dancing and line dancing because she feels it allows people to step away from the busyness of their lives and enjoy an old-fashioned sense of community and friendship. “And, of course, the food,” she added. “I come from a family of chefs.”

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Taylor WILLIS, 18

“Being queen is not a one-person job. It takes all of us with so many people around. I was really nervous in the pageant this year because everyone did such a wonderful job on their speeches. It was a great group of girls. We all bonded this year. We got to make connections before even being on the court.”

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